Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has reportedly announced his decision to retire from American football following his Tampa Bay side's recent playoff defeat to the LA Rams.
According to ESPN's Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter, sources 'inside Brady's inner circle' have confirmed that the 44-year-old will be retiring after 22 years, and seven Super Bowl rings.
7x Super Bowl champion Tom Brady retiring after 22 NFL seasons. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/jUYaLvrYg8
— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2022
According to reports in America, Brady wanted to give the Buccaneers a full opportunity to make post-Brady plans. He also does not want to upstage the playoffs, as the Super Bowl teams prepare to become locked in.
While an official announcement has not yet taken place, Brady's management agency TB12sports all but confirmed the news on Saturday evening, posting a Tweet thanking Brady for his storied career.
Brady started his professional career with the New England Patriots, after being drafted 199th overall in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
In spite of this, Brady went on to become one of, if not the greatest quarterback in the history of the sport. He has won 243 regular season games and 35 postseason games for a combined 278 wins, and won seven of his 10 Super Bowl appearances.
This makes him the record holder for the most national championships in NFL history.
While he enjoyed most of his career as the franchise quarterback under Bill Belichick at the Patriots, in 2020 he signed a shock contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two years.
In 2021, Brady led the Buccs to their first Super Bowl victory since 2002, only the second in the franchise's history. While he hoped to do it a second year in a row, his Buccs team fell at the Divisional Round in one of the great post-season matches.
According to ESPN, "In the days since, he has spent time digesting that mindset and is preparing his retirement announcement along with the next chapter of his life and career, sources said."
Brady will become the second future Hall of Fame quarterback to call it a career this postseason. On Thursday, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement.
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